Chapter 227: War Won, the One Who Disappeared

(Classes are full today, so I will update slightly less; as per the weekend tradition, I will post extra chapters on both days.)

"Edward Walling has banished the God of Fear as the earthly proxy of the God of Light? In that case, this war with Sewintan is effectively over, isn't it?"

Garcia, mounted on a galloping warhorse, listened to the transmission from the Night’s Edge headquarters through his magitech device, his expression a mix of astonishment and irrepressible joy.

"Yes, it is over. The other kingdoms lurking at the borders have also begun to retreat after receiving the news. The Four Border Dukes did not give those fellows a chance to send spies into the kingdom. The war is over; as for everything else, we can discuss it later. It is time to get some proper rest."

The intelligence team spoke with undisguised fatigue, laced with a sense of relief.

This battle had exhausted all of Alastair; fortunately, the war had finally ended the moment the God of Light’s miracle eradicated the God of Fear.

Post-war affairs could wait for a while; after all, people are not made of iron, and both soul and body require respite.

"Do whatever you wish to do. I recall you have a close friend at the Tower of the Bound; I’ll grant you leave. Just remember to return in fourteen days—that is the day we must pay our respects to our fallen brothers."

The intelligence team’s voice carried a hint of banter, though it turned solemn and low when mentioning the date fourteen days hence.

"Understood. We shall pay our respects to the departed who gave their lives."

Across the communication device, Garcia offered a salute toward the direction of the Royal City.

"Pay your respects to the departed. We won't disturb you further; we will handle the affairs in the city. You brothers who marched to Sewintan may return to wherever you wish. Congratulations on your triumphant return. Over."

Garcia tucked the device back into his pouch and looked at the members of the Tower of the Bound and the other elites who were riding toward the Royal City alongside him.

He had not masked his voice during the conversation, and upon hearing the news, the others slowed their horses, drawing closer to the smiling Garcia.

"We won."

A plain statement, yet these three words were enough to stir the heart. There were no cheers or grand displays of excitement; everyone simply let out a long breath, letting the joy take root within.

"Consider this a holiday for everyone. We won't need to handle the Royal City's affairs for the time being. Go wherever you’ve been wanting to go."

Garcia shared the second piece of news with his companions. After a brief discussion, the Alastair soldiers parted ways with their squad leader, heading either to their homes within the kingdom or to attend to other matters.

"Well, do you have anywhere you plan to go? If not, care to accompany me to the Mine Manor to see my sister?"

A shoulder nudged his, and Lilia Swain’s voice reached Garcia’s ears, carrying her usual "rogue" attitude.

Though she phrased it as if Garcia had a choice, the Flame Witch left him no room to refuse.

"Fine. But aren't members of the Tower of the Bound required to return within a certain period after completing a mission? Will this be alright?"

Garcia did not decline, but asked out of concern for the Tower’s regulations.

"Slap!"

A palm landed on the back of Garcia’s head, and Lilia glared at him with visible annoyance.

"Are you an idiot? The God of Fear was smashed to pieces, and all his fragments were sucked in and destroyed along with him when he manifested. That means we members of the Tower of the Bound are temporarily unemployed. Whether we go back or not makes no difference."

"I suspect those inefficient old geezers won't be able to discuss anything until the fragments of the God of Fear reappear across the continent. Until then, I am completely free to do whatever I please."

Lilia patted her impressively sized chest with triumph, then climbed onto the warhorse behind Garcia.

"Let’s go! I need to find time to see my dear niece, Avia. She must miss her aunt. I wonder what level of strength this genius—the most talented person I’ve ever met—has reached now."

"By the way, how is that boyfriend of hers, the knight named Wang Yu? Is he worthy of her?"

Lilia chattered incessantly behind Garcia’s back. It was clear she was in high spirits, and having thought of something, she mentioned Wang Yu and Avia, both of whom could be considered her apprentices.

"They are both excellent."

"Not bad."

...

"When is this guy going to wake up..."

Shale poked Edward, who lay on a bed in the Night’s Edge medical wing, asking with a hint of dissatisfaction.

"His body and soul are both fine. The divine power of Light protected him well; the wounds to his soul and body have been fully repaired. If he hasn't woken up, it might just be that he is too tired—not physically, but mentally. Let him sleep for a while."

Ms. Jenny, who had returned early after the front-line war concluded, held a clipboard and checked the status of Edward, who lay with his eyes closed.

She spoke to Shale, who was squatting on the floor poking Edward’s face while being swatted on the head by the cat-kin girl, Sufang’s, tail.

As an expert from the border sanatorium, Jenny possessed a high level of research regarding soul damage, and her words were essentially fact.

"I see. This puts me in a difficult position..."

Shale scratched his head, looking troubled. He wanted to inform the members of Night’s Edge that their captain had perished alongside his nemesis in an act of vengeance.

But after consulting with the devil "One," they had unanimously decided to keep the news within a small circle for now.

Judging by the information obtained from Marquis Enkai, the Royal Family could not be said to hold malice toward all of Night’s Edge, but they were certainly targeting them.

The Royal Family likely never expected that Huguin, with Shale’s help, could complete his vengeance against Marquis Enkai. The artifact he now held, the Chronos Hourglass, was the loss that mistake had cost the Royal Family. Shale wanted to exploit this information gap to set some traps for them.

Night’s Edge was indeed an organization formed spontaneously by those with shared ideals, but just as Wang Yu could never guarantee that no traitors would emerge in the nascent Nightfall Church, Shale could not guarantee there were no turncoats within Night’s Edge.

"Forget it. Everyone here is trustworthy. There is some rather terrible news I need to share. As for Edward, I don't have the time to wait for him to wake up."

Shale straightened his expression, his tone turning serious, which caused everyone present to look at the guy who had been grinning ever since the God of Fear dissipated.

"I shall excuse myself..."

Jenny was a very sensible woman; as Shale spoke, she walked toward the door, not intending to hear news she perhaps shouldn't know.

"No need. Er, Professor? Where have you been? We’ve been trying to send you messages."

Just as Shale was about to stop Ms. Jenny, who had already turned the handle, he saw the door open to reveal Zig, who was holding the hand of his sister, Noel.

"Yes, this is what I wanted to talk to you about. And, of course, I’ve come to say goodbye."

Zig nodded to the startled Ms. Jenny, walked into the room, closed the door, and instinctively channeled the magic circuits inscribed on his body to cast a sound-dampening barrier over the door.

"What is it?"

Shale glanced at the magic Zig had placed on the door, and an ominous premonition began to stir within him. What Zig had to say was likely connected to the Royal Family’s strange behavior and what he himself intended to reveal.

Zig looked around at everyone present. Aside from Ms. Jenny, who had heard rumors, they were all familiar faces. Even the few squad leaders of Night’s Edge, including Gilbert, were trustworthy.

He recounted his experience of being imprisoned at the Rudolf estate in a straightforward, objective manner, devoid of excessive personal emotion. As he spoke, the atmosphere in the room grew heavy.

None of those present were dull-witted; they had already suspected the Royal Family’s strange behavior during this incident, and Zig’s account effectively brought the Royal Family’s underhanded dealings into the light.

"That is the general situation. I cannot tolerate this kingdom threatening those I cherish. So, although I am reluctant to leave you all, I intend to bid farewell to this kingdom and head to the outside world."

In the silence that filled the room, Zig’s words, tinged with a bitter smile, rang out as he explained his plans.

"I had thought the Royal Family’s actions were merely targeted at certain individuals, but it seems their malice toward Night’s Edge is no longer hidden. This news must be conveyed to you all. As for how you proceed or what choices you make, please decide for yourselves."

Shale’s tone was unprecedentedly serious. He had thought the end of the war meant the end of the matter, but it seemed the turmoil within the Royal City had only just begun.

Everyone focused their gaze on Shale, who then recounted what he and Huguin had experienced. As he spoke, a sense of fury began to brew in everyone’s heart.

"Grrr..."

Zig’s fists clenched, his strong muscles and bones grinding together to produce a teeth-aching sound. Having personally experienced his sister being threatened, and now hearing that his friend had died for vengeance and that the Royal Family had played the role of the instigator, his heart was a raging sea of fury.

"Huguin... he was too stubborn. He never wanted to share his burdens with us, always thinking he had to shoulder everything alone. If only he had told us his experiences and plans, no matter what..."

Zig’s words echoed in the heavy room; this was likely what everyone present was thinking.

"Hm? The prayer communication network has been restored?"

Just as Shale opened his mouth to speak, a faint call in his mind interrupted him—the prayer communication network, the message transmission completed with the help of the Lady of the Night.

"Charles, is Wang Yu with you? I cannot get in touch with him."

Avia’s voice resonated with a tremor of anxiety.

"Wang Yu?"

Charles paused, stunned; they had completely overlooked the man.

Perhaps his habitual reliability had left such a profound impression upon them that they all assumed Wang Yu required no concern, certain he could accomplish what was necessary and "retreat unscathed," even if he occasionally returned in tatters.

Only now did they realize that Wang Yu had been unreachable for far too long; even Sieg, who had been lost to them earlier, had sent word once the God of Fear receded.

Wang Yu had vanished.